Estonian officiers

Discussions on the foreigners (volunteers as well as conscripts) fighting in the German Wehrmacht, those collaborating with the Axis and other period Far Right organizations. Hosted by George Lepre.
Arensburger
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#31

Post by Arensburger » 28 Dec 2006, 20:52

Ultima wrote:have someone information about the names of estonian officer at the narwa-bataillon?
Hastuf. Jaan Raudsoo
Jaan Raudson (later Raudsoo) born in Räpina (South Estonia) 27.04.1907
1928 Estonian Military school 2. cours of aspirants
1929 Estonian Military school. Cours of commanding a Platoon
1930 Estonian Military school cours of officers
1931 promotid to lieutenant. Commander of Zug in 6.company 7. Infantry regiment of Estonian Army
1942 commander of 1. company I Bat. 1. Regiment der Legion Estland
1943 commander of 1. company SS-Panzergrenadier Bataillon “Narwa”
KIA 21.07.1943
Hastuf. Jaan Raudsoo was killed on the third day of battle Izum.
Men of his company are remember him as caring and same time brave officer. At the hardest time of the battle he was running from the one foxhole to another – sleeves wind up and buttons of soldier's coat open. Allways he had drinking water with and also encouraging words to the men.

Ostuf. Eduard-Karl Kirschbaum
Eduard-Karl Kirschbaum born in Kharkov 26.06.1918 (Father estonian, mother ukrainian – soon all family moved to Estonia)
1936 graduated Doomkooli gymnasium in Tallinn and drafted to the Army. Soon he gets in to the Military school.
1938 promotion to Oberjunker. In service as officer of light artillery in 3.battary of 1. Artillery Group (location Narva)
1941 quit the army and in accordance with German-Soviet pact he moved to the Germany as person with german roots.
1941 he joined P.Bat. „Ostland”
1942 Estonian SS Legion
1943 commander of IG Zug SS-Panzergrenadier Bataillon “Narwa”
Was wounded in the battle of Izum, also manage do break out from the pocket of Cherkassy. Was wounded and later disappear (later destiny unknown?)

Arensburger
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#32

Post by Arensburger » 28 Dec 2006, 22:11

Haupsturmführer Hugo Siim
Hugo Siim born in 19.02.1904 in Pajusi (near Viljandi) Estonia
1927 graduated gymnasium in Põltsamaa and after that he was accepted in the Estonian military school, infantry class.
1930 promotion to lieutenant. Commander of 1.company 2. Infantries regiment.
1934 commander of Signal Company II Detached Infantry battalion.
1936 graduated University of Tartu – jurisprudence
1939 promoted to captain
1941 quit the army and in accordance with German-Soviet pact he moved to the Germany as person with german roots.
1941 Pol.Bat „Ostland”, from Nov.1941 commander of 3. company
1942 Estnische Schutzmannschaft (Front) Btl. 33 Leningrad front, against Oranjenbaum pocket
1943 Estonian Legion and Bad Tölz. He was a valedictorian in this school.
Oct. 1943 commander of 2. company SS-Panzergrenadier Bataillon “Narwa”
KIA 12.Jan.1944
After the four days of battle, late in the eavning one shell of russian large-caliber cannon fell right ahead of Siim`s bunker. He was standing by the door of bunker and got killed immediately. Haupsturmführer Hugo Siim is buried to the soldiers cemetery in Teklino Ukraina. (40km south-east from Cherkassy)


Arensburger
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#33

Post by Arensburger » 29 Dec 2006, 14:46

Hauptsturmführer Oskar Ruut
Oskar Rosenstock (later Ruut) born in Valga (South-Estonia) 24.04.1916
1935 graduated gymnasium in Valga and drafted to the Army. Was accepted into the Estonian military school, infantry class.
1937 promotion to Oberjunker. 7. Infantry Regiment.
1940 graduated University of Tartu – jurisprudence
1941 quit the army and being employed in an Estonian Railways (Tallinn).
1941 Under the communist role, he organizes the illegal armed group and ahead of this group took apart in liberating of Tallinn from russian communists.
Nov.1941 Estnische Schutzmannschaft (Front) Btl. 29. From 5.March 1942 proper front service on the line of Leningrad front.
1943 Estonian Legion and Bad Tölz. He was a best person graduated in the present course and got directly rank of Obersturmführer.
Oct. 1943 SS-Panzergrenadier Bataillon “Narwa” and from Dec. commander of 4. company.
For the battles of Cherkassy he got EK II and EK I , also promotion to Hauptsturmführer.
20. March 1944 he marching ahead of SS-Panzergrenadier Bataillon “Narwa” (176 men are still alive) on the coming home parade in Tallinn as acting commander of Bat. „Narwa”.
1944 commander of 4. company SS-Waffen-Füsilier Batallion 20. At the time of battle on the Tannenberg Line com.bat. Hastuf. Wellner was wounded (25.07.44) Hastuf. Oskar Ruut taking over commanding of Bat.
KIA 3.Aug. 1944
In the onerous battle on the Tannenberg Line (between Sinimäe hills and railroad) Hastuf. Oskar Ruut was on the frontline by the hardest spots. To the new members of Bat.(bat. new size was over 700 men) he shows the spirit of bat „Narwa” – commander always together with soldiers. 1. Aug.1944 he personally destroying 2 russian T-34 (using Faust) and at the same time getting 4 wounds. He decides not do leave frontline. 3. Aug.44 he destroying third russian tank. This time another T-34 observes him. Ruut got hit by tank cannon shot. To be sure tank running over Hastuf. Oskar Ruut´s body.

George Lepre
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#34

Post by George Lepre » 31 Dec 2006, 02:32

Great information, Arensburger. Your work is most appreciated.

Best regards,

George

Ultima
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#35

Post by Ultima » 01 Jan 2007, 16:21

yes, thanks a lot! can you tell me what are your sources?

Arensburger
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#36

Post by Arensburger » 01 Jan 2007, 18:20

Ultima wrote:yes, thanks a lot! can you tell me what are your sources?
"Minu Au On Truudus - Pataljon Narva Ajalugu" (History of Bat. "Narwa") Hisorycomission of club "Wiking-Narva" 1995
"Hando Ruus Kunstnik ja Ohvitser" Reino Hein 2000 Tartu
"Sinimägede Sangar" Voldemar Pinn 2000 Pärnu
"Eesti Vabadusvõitlejad II Maailmasõjas" Copyright by The "Võitleja" Relief Foundation Toronto

Arensburger
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#37

Post by Arensburger » 01 Jan 2007, 18:51

George Lepre wrote:Arensburger's post was of great interest to me. He stated that ten officers from Bataillon "Narwa" were sent to Bad Tölz. Does anyone have a complete list of these men?
1. Hugo Siim
2. Oskar Puusepp
3. Rudolf Türk - wounded in the last period of pass through battle of Cherkassy. Shoot oneself because immotility.
4. Oskar Ruut
5. Peeter Lossmann - wounded in the pocket of Cherkassy, evakuated by JU-52.
6. Evald Müür - wounded in the pass through battle of Cherkassy, but manage do break out from the pocket.
7. Valdur Visnapuu - KIA 27.07.1944 Tannenberg Line
8. Harald Salumäe - wounded in the pass through battle of Cherkassy, but manage do break out from the pocket.
9. Ernst Kabrits - badly wounded in battle of Auvere (Tannenberg line) died in hospidal (Germany) because a wound
10. Valter Rosenberg
Last edited by Arensburger on 01 Jan 2007, 22:06, edited 1 time in total.

Arensburger
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#38

Post by Arensburger » 01 Jan 2007, 21:46

Oskar Ruut is on the clip (01:09). Bat "Narwa" coming home 20.03.1944
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1onHQ-V ... ed&search=

Arensburger
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#39

Post by Arensburger » 05 Jan 2007, 18:24

George Lepre wrote:Hello C. -

Here are the "points of contention" (see the article I cited above):

A. Kuklane attending Junderschule Bad Tölz: Not every SS officer's personnel file survived the war. But I have found that most if not all of the men who attended officer training courses at Bad Tölz, Braunschweig, Klagenfurt, etc. are included on various lists that are on file at the former Berlin Document Center (now BA in Berlin). Kuklane is not listed. Also, a book about Estonian SS-officers was published by the Estonian historian Leo Tammiksaar, but Kuklane is not listed. Promotion lists (SS-Veränderungsblätter) were published periodically and survived the war. Kuklane claimed that he rose to the rank of captain, but there is no mention of anyone named Kuklane being promoted to any officer rank.

A. Kuklane serving in the "Narwa Bataillon": The Narwa Bataillon was detached from the Estonian SS Legion in March 1943 (before Kuklane even joined the German military) and fought in Ukraine within the Wiking Division. When the survivors returned to the Estonian SS-Division in early 1944, they became the cadre of SS-Fusilier Btl. 20 and were NOT integrated into any of the Estonian Division's three infantry regiments (45, 46, 47). Harald Riipalu never commanded this unit.
A quote from the article: "Fearful of the occupier's revenge, Kuklane hid his Waffen SS documents and his Solbuch (sic), a soldier's identification book, on a farm in Neuhammer am Kweiss (sic) in Schleswig-Holstein."
Truppenübungsplatz Neuhammer am Queiss was in Silesia (today: Poland), not Schleswig-Holstein, which is in northern Germany. Moreover, Neuhammer had already fallen to the Russians in February 1945.
Best,
George
In this topic we can meet posts with discussion about feature story of August Kuklane, wrote in the media. And here some members (with skills of history) are disposed to doubt a many of facts adduced in this publication.
I was thinking about this discussion here and now I would like do say my point of view about Kuklane.
I am sure, Kuklane is not a liar, but old man told the story to the people who are uninformed about this period in history and they wrote story, how they understood this matter.
I do not have any special information about Kuklane. But reading this article I can say what can be truth and where are mistakes.
After graduation, as an Estonian patriot, August joined the Kaitseliit, the Estonian National Guard. In 1943, after the German army had pushed the Red Army out of Estonia, August, age 20, joined the Baltic Legion, a Waffen SS unit comprised of Estonians fighting with the German army.

At the time of the graduation (about 1940-41) national organization Kaitseliit was practically closed down by communists. For being a member of this organization, Kuklane had a very short time. But another question in this proposition is what Kuklane did after summer of 1941. Here I am sure, he joined the Omakaitse (Estonian self-defense organization under the German occupation) and serving in Omakaitse is exchanged to Kaitseliit. As we can see Kuklane did not hurry do join Estonian military units in the German army at the time of the early war. And also we know that service in the units of Omakaitse and all the more in the units of JuPo or SD was some kind of guaranty doing get around of direct front service in the German army. Somehow I am sure he as educated man used one of these combinations. He born in July 5, 1923 and joined the Legion in the age of 20 – second half of 1943. This was a time of the first mobilizations of Estonians to the German army. Battalion „Narwa” was already in Ukraine and worked as meat chopper of Estonian young men and got supplements from Legion. 3.SS Brigade was on his way to the front. As we can see, Kuklane went to Legion and right away to the officer school. Maybe this was a coincidental but maybe he came from his previous unit with letter of application and letter of introduction to the officer’s school. As I know, at one and the same time all Estonian rear units and institutions under the command of SD and JuPo got direct order do allot some percent of manpower to the Legion. Even more, they had new directive that everybody who serving in these units mast have some months combat experience on the frontline.
In this situation, for 20 year old man, who do not want do sacrify his life on the frontline, study in the military school is a best choice. This gave a 9 month extra time and later possibility do by on the frontline as officer.
In July of 1944, August took part in the Battle of the Narva Bridgehead holding back the invading Soviet forces on the Eastern Front.
Kuklane served with the 20th Panzer Grenadier Division of the 2nd Regiment of the famous Narva Battalion under Obersturmpanführer (Colonel) Riipalu fighting against the Red Army, who August noted, "were not sparing any lives."
At the Narva front, August commanded a Schweres Maschinen Gewehr (SMG) platoon of heavy machine guns.
On August 29, 1944, Lieutenant Kuklane was badly wounded in his right arm at Sinimägedes on the Narva Front. He received first treatment at a school in Rakvere and was then taken to Tallinn before being evacuated to Danzig and Berlin. Due to the severity of his wounds, he spent several months at a military hospital at Selov Markt, 70 miles east of Berlin.
If we counting 9 months in the school, then we can see, Kuklane start service in the 20. Est. Division early summer of 1944. That was quiet time on the Narwa front and at this time took part of reorganization of Bat „Narwa” to the 20. Füs. Bat. From the old strength very little was left and lots of new manpower was included. Kuklane very likely included.
Officially this unit had not „Narwa” in his name, but at the time of summer battles in Estonia, this unit was widely known as bat. Narva. Not only members of Battalion and Estonian civilians used this name. Name „Bat. Narwa” was used even by com. Of III Armored Corps Steiner.
In his memories Kuklane say, he served in the Riipalu`s regiment. It sounds wrong, but somehow he is right. It was on the Tannenberg line, when gen. Steiner was waiting Russian attack by Auvere. For repel this attack he gave under command of Riipalu also Füs.Bat.20 (Narva) and this joint unit called Riipalus regiment (45. reg +20.Füs.Bat) had order do defend this attack. Battle was 24.07.44. Very hard for defenders but they manage do stay. For this battle Riipalu got Knight cross. Now we can say, Kuklane took also part for earning this Knight Cross to Riipalu. For Kuklane that was first serious battle and characteristically he remembering this battle as serving in the Riipalus unit.
In the article we can find a date Kuklane was wounded Aug.29.44. Here I think is mistake. Most likely he was wounded 29.07.1944. At this time 2.Füs.Bat. was fighting by Sinimäe hills. At the beginning all bat. was in the reserve. Afternoon of 27.07.44 bat. was subordinated to the commander of „Denmark”s II Bat. Hastuf. Heinz Haemel. He got order do counterattack russians by the right side of Kinderheam Hill. From the bat. „Narva” to attack at 18.00 went 3. company. Attack had no success and lots of men were KIA also commander of 3. comp. Ustuf Valdur Visnapuu.
28.07.44 some units of Bat.Narva defending frontline between remains of „Denmark”s III bat and 9. comp. Of „Norge”. At the evening again unsuccessful counterattack to the Kinderheam Hill, remains of „Narva”s 3.com. taking a part.
29.07.08. Some units of Bat.”Narva” still in reserve. Paul Maitla collecting unit for counterattack to the Grenadier Hill and some units from Bat.”Narva” being also involved. Grenader Hill was taken back and Maitla got Knight Cross. This day was one of the hardest on the Sinimäe Hills and I am sure this was a day Kuklane got wounded.
Later in August 1944 Bat. Narva involved in the battles of centre area of Tannenberg Line. Russians were breaking trough the line of 225. Div and 170. Div. There bat. „Narva” involved in the counterattack and later defending the frontline on the spot. At the 29.08.1944 battles on this area are over and on the lines of bat.”Narva” is a quiet time.
Next question is what Kuklane did in Germany 1945.
After the hospital he was probably send to the Estn.20.Div. On the way to Neuhammer Jan.1945 he having possibility first time do visit Dresten. At this time (about 20 of Jan.) 45.; 46. and Art. reg being sent to the frontline by Oppeln. Kuklane as officer of 20.Füs.Bat coming to the Neuhammers camp, but at this time 20.Füs.Bat practically did not exist anymore (soldier are divided to reg. 45 and 46.). In the Neuhammer camp are still not finally reformed 47. reg. one bat. of Art. reg (without weapons) and very big at this time SS-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz Regiment 20. Most likely Kuklane as fresh man from hospital, not having own unit, was included to this regiment. As I guess Kuklane was happy about this advantage.
But russians are braking through and soon they are near the Neuhammer Camp. Commanding officer of Est. Troops in Neuhammer camp SS-Obersturmbannführer Emil Rehfeldt making quickly alarm regiment and sending this to the frontline. Commander of alarm regiment is Waffen-Sturmbannführer Johannes Koort, I bat. Waffen-Haupsturmführer Eduard Hints, II bat. Waffen-Haupsturmführer Ludvig Triik and III.bat. Kotte (german officer). Regiment saw the battle 7. Feb. 1944 Nort-Ost from Neuhammer. From leftover men – Genesungskompanie and 1.com. of SS-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz Regiment 20 and some others was made another alarm battalion commanded by german officer Schütte and Waffen-Haupsturmführer Vaino. This unit made the positions right by the borders of the camp.
These alarm units was very badly armed, not heavy weapons’ at all. Front had not a proper frontline at this moment and alarm regiment was divided to the small groups having no connection with each other. By the Russian attack at 9.- and 10. of Feb. alarm regiment were totally disconcerted and start uncontrolled retreat. Stubaf. Koort KIA in these battles. Men from alarm regiment were in very sad situation. During the days on the frontline they never got any supplies – ammunition, food … They felt that, they are no responsible do fight for Germany, if Germans can not guarantee for them even the food. All this was a Rehfelt´s fault. Groups of men from alarm regiment retreat through Qveis, Heiligensee, Roteburg and Neisse. Rehfelt collect men to the Neisse and Raussa and start a trail agents Estonian officers, blaming them in treating. Trail did not finish, russians game and save these officers at this time.
Not better manage an alarm battalion by Neuhammer camp. Part of the men (about 200 sick and not good for combat) were sending to Langenau near Ulm. Defenders were start do retreat to Frost. One German general, organizing defense of Frost lay claim to Estonians soldiers, do incorporate them to defending force of Frost. Battalion leaving to the Frost 1. comp. (200men) commanded by Untersturmführer Elmar Otsing. Mane part of alarm bat. (3 companies) continue retreat to the Spalmberg – Senfswensberg direction.
This is quit possible, that Kuklane found himselvs in Dresten 14.Feb.1944. And I am quit sure, he buried his documents somewhere close to Neuhammer, being encased with russian troops, without ammunition, knowing anything about real situation around and wishing only do get out from russians. Rehfelt blame others Estonian officers for doing same. Yes, he manages do to that and probably using his good German language get onto the some motor vehicle or train.
Later SS-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz Regiment 20 was in Denmark. And there was also Kuklane. In the article he says that, he was a DP near the Ukleisee in Schleswig-Holstein from May to September, 1945. This is not correct. In the Apr.1945 troops from SS-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz Regiment 20 in Denmark, did not want do go to the frontline. Using different reasons, like airbombing, broken railroad and some more reasons, they manage do spend time and finally do surrender to the British troops. British authorities saved the military formation of SS-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz Regiment 20 locate them to the Uklei. Lots of Estonian soldiers rambling in the Germany at the time of end of the war joined this unit, some even voluntarily. Everybody was sure, soon they will be released. But happened unbelievable. All men from this unit were sent to POW camp for SS soldiers in Belgium, Zedelgham.
And now the question – was August Kuklane really officer. I do not know, but if do speculate, then I do not believe he was Untersturmfürer in the summer 1944. Usually from the Bad Tölz they come out as Junker. But I believe he got his promotion and EKII for the battles on the Tannenberg Line already in the Germany. Or in the hospital or even later in the SS-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz Regiment 20
Why he is not noted in the memories or documents? Because he did not had a long route in the combat unit. As we see, he has only 5 days combat experience. 20.Füs.Bat. was full of new members and time for familiarization was short.

Ultima
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#40

Post by Ultima » 08 Jan 2007, 13:55

Arensburger wrote:
George Lepre wrote:Arensburger's post was of great interest to me. He stated that ten officers from Bataillon "Narwa" were sent to Bad Tölz. Does anyone have a complete list of these men?
1. Hugo Siim
2. Oskar Puusepp
3. Rudolf Türk - wounded in the last period of pass through battle of Cherkassy. Shoot oneself because immotility.
4. Oskar Ruut
5. Peeter Lossmann - wounded in the pocket of Cherkassy, evakuated by JU-52.
6. Evald Müür - wounded in the pass through battle of Cherkassy, but manage do break out from the pocket.
7. Valdur Visnapuu - KIA 27.07.1944 Tannenberg Line
8. Harald Salumäe - wounded in the pass through battle of Cherkassy, but manage do break out from the pocket.
9. Ernst Kabrits - badly wounded in battle of Auvere (Tannenberg line) died in hospidal (Germany) because a wound
10. Valter Rosenberg
were all of them officer (with a waffen-ss officer rank) before sending to bad tölz and were used as an officer by narwa in acktion or did they received the officers ranks after bad tölz?

Arensburger
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#41

Post by Arensburger » 09 Jan 2007, 00:16

Ultima wrote:were all of them officer (with a waffen-ss officer rank) before sending to bad tölz and were used as an officer by narwa in acktion or did they received the officers ranks after bad tölz?
They had all officer rank (Estonian Army) before Bad Töltz and most of them had also combat experience as officer in Wehrmacht. In the bat. "Narwa" - the first duty was study in Bad Tölz and after that they got positions as commanders.

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KACKO
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#42

Post by KACKO » 09 Jan 2007, 15:53

Arensburger wrote: Commander of SS-Waffen Nachschubstruppe 20 Waffen-Haupsturmführer Adolf Verner Metsakond was murdered by Czech red partisans 09.05.1945 in Bolesval.
Murdered? By Czech red partisans? Any details?

In may 9 1945 in today Czech republic was fighting still underway as Germans didn't want to become soviet POW's and were trying to reach American lines.
Czech republic National uprising against German ocuppation started on May 5th 1945 and ended May 9th 1945.
People who took part on Uprising were (similary as in Slovak National Uprising in august - october 1944) from wide range of political organizations (kommunist, democrats and other political parties), then there were just people who wanted to help liberate they country, former members of Czechoslovak army, policmen etc.

So you need to have some proof they were Czech red partisans (but they could be)

Ultima
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#43

Post by Ultima » 09 Jan 2007, 16:15

did you know the date of that thirst narwa officer course at bad tölz?
i think there was a second one from 09.43 to 02.44 with i know 5 narwa-members...

George Lepre
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#44

Post by George Lepre » 09 Jan 2007, 17:16

Hi All -

As I have written elsewhere, there is a need for a definitive history of the 20th Division in German or English. Arensburger, have you considered such a project? Your knowledge is certainly formidable.

Best regards,

George
Last edited by George Lepre on 10 Jan 2007, 07:42, edited 1 time in total.

Ultima
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#45

Post by Ultima » 09 Jan 2007, 17:38

george you are right!..
the main problem, i think is, that the most books you need as sources are in estonian,
so you need this language for such a projekt...(so its arensburgers turn! :-)

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